With BIM, you don’t just draw a design; you build and operate it. This makes these digital models critical for large-scale projects such as airports which demand meticulous planning and cross-functional collaboration. In this article, Bhushan Avsatthi, Hi-Tech Digital Solutions, explores the benefits of BIM in airport construction
Airports are highly complex, incorporating multiple and diverse infrastructure systems such as terminals, runways, taxiways, aprons, car parks, railways, roads, and cargo areas among others. These systems are also asset-intensive and hence require efficient design and construction planning to meet operational requirements. The fact that airports are important economic engines addressing increasingly evolving needs of modern society makes digitization an imperative for airport operators.
BIM tools offer multiple design options, detailed 3D rendering of spaces, enhanced coordination with stakeholders, accurate cost-estimations and other features to help architects visualize and design airport spaces. The detailed 3D visualization of an airport helps architects make informed decisions better plan individual space and aesthetics.
According to an Autodesk report, about 82% of BIM users have witnessed a positive ROI, with another 14% breaking even. This takes the total users who have at least recovered their investment to 96%.
The challenges faced by architects in airport construction projects
Modern-day airport terminals and control towers serve as landmarks, signposts, and cultural identities rather just than being confined to traditional operational roles. Hence, many outside factors need to be considered in airport planning to provide engaging experiences to travellers.
Some major challenges faced by airport construction project teams include:
- Manually handling large amounts of complex data generated during drawings and documentation is difficult.
- Lack of interdisciplinary coordination and communication results in a significant loss of time and money.
- Absence of a centralized database makes information access across disciplines and geographies tough.
- Traditional manual site surveying methods are time-consuming and prone to errors and reworks.
BIM eases construction challenges for architects
Advancements in technology and the evolution of the architecture industry have changed the way architects plan and design things. With BIM technology, architects and building owners are visually experiencing designs before finalizing the airport project.
3D BIM models provide designers and architects greater control over design decisions, increase their design speed, and improve collaboration among the team. BIM tools also enable architects to generate multiple design options and incorporate contextual details by leveraging technologies such as reality capture and geographical information systems (GIS).
Dubai International Airport, Changi Airport (Singapore), Wellington Airport (New Zealand), and Winnipeg International Airport (Canada) are some popular airports that have implemented BIM technology to build complex structures at optimized costs and within scheduled timeframes.
A Muscat based company partnered with Hitech Digital on an airport construction project spread over 350, 000 square meters. The project which required Hitech to model an airport infrastructure involved creating 3D BIM models in Revit, integrating architecture, structure and MEP models in Navisworks and preparing clash detection reports.
By coordinating the architecture model with structural and MEP model, the BIM team identified and rectified several clashes. It made the installation of various systems such as heating, plumbing, and HVAC hassle-free. The clash-free coordinated Revit BIM model helped the company achieve significant cost savings.
The Top 7 benefits of BIM in airport construction for architects
1. BIM improves collaboration and coordination
Complex construction projects such as airports require effective cross-disciplinary collaboration. This sync during initial stages of the project has multiple advantages s including reduced time delays and the need for contingency funds.
It allows architects, designers, contractors, manufacturers, and installers to understand and agree upon priorities and construction methods fully. A common data environment (CDE) makes it much easier for architects to share complex project models and coordinate with peers.
2. BIM reduces time on iterations
Construction projects such as airports need to generate many drawings to coordinate and communicate the design on the site. Even a minor change in the design would require the production of new drawings, which would need to be duplicated to share among project teams.
A shared digital model does away with the need to duplicate drawings for different requirements of building disciplines. Also, a digital model contains more information than a drawing set and allows architects to annotate and connect its intelligence to the project.
With BIM tools, architects can detect conflicts in the early project stages and also make iterations in real time through mobile devices. Detection of flaws early on, rather than during major milestone reviews, saves significant time and money on rework.
3. Enhanced scheduling and sequencing with 4D BIM
Only a few airports in North America and Europe are built from scratch. Most airport construction projects are usually renovations or expansions of existing facilities or both. Hence, it is important to have a construction plan that has little or no impact on regular airport operations. This requires the need for a rigorous project coordination process during design and pre-construction to lower constructability errors and reworks.
4D BIM’s sequencing features provide immense support to architects to plan and design add-on facilities without causing operational inconvenience and also eliminating potential risks. This advanced scheduling and simulation tool is an invaluable planning asset, even for build-from-scratch constructions.
4. BIM helps architects to simulate and visualize design at the pre-construction stage
BIM tools allow architects to visualize their designs and concepts in a 3D rendering well before the design stage. This helps in understanding the form and function of the structure and allows architects to make informed decisions.
Integration of BIM tools with AR/VR allows architects to present a real-life experience of the designed facility and efficiently communicate their design to project stakeholders.
Visualization of various airport spaces such as shopping areas, food courts, terminal check-ins, and lounges help take decisions that enhance visitor experience. Effective communication of appeal, aesthetics, constructability etc. among architects, designers, contractors, and civil engineers ensures translation of design as visualized.
5. BIM offers better control over digital data
BIM’s digital-model-based workflow offers features such as auto-save and connections to the project history. The connection to the version history of the model’s evolution helps reduce risks such as disastrous disappearances or corruption of files which could hamper the productivity of the construction process.
According to an Autodesk survey conducted among high-engagement BIM users, 84% of the users witnessed a significant reduction in unnecessary reworks, 69% said BIM reduced material costs and wastage, and 60% users said BIM helped them mitigate risks through early engagement of the material supply chain.
BIM is narrowing the gap between digital processing and physical systems, thereby allowing the design and build phases of a project to get in sync and move closer together. This reduces time and money, especially when airport construction projects move from the 3D concept to the field. It also makes it easy for architects to recognize appropriate designs in the initial stages of the design process, thereby eliminating potential risks.
6. Scan to BIM to capture existing facilities for airport expansion
Advanced mapping tools and better earth images have made it easy to assess airport project sites. For instance, airport projects today involve aerial imagery and digital elevation, laser scans of existing infrastructure, and accurately capturing reality to streamline the project process.
BIM allows designers to compile all this information and develop a model for expansion and renovation. Laser surveys also help develop 3D parametric files to accept material or product meta-data. This results in significant time savings compared to traditional methods of measurements.
7. BIM facilitates better airport operations
Apart from assisting in design and construction, BIM helps manage facilities over the entire lifecycle of the building. It can be used to assess how the operator, airlines, and other tenants occupy and use spaces.
By integrating product and asset information into the model, airport facilities personnel can schedule preventive maintenance operations. This eliminates interruptions in service due to equipment failure or malfunction, a critical factor in a 24/7 operational environment.
Architects should invest in BIM for airport construction for its operational efficiency and ability to enhance user experience
BIM in airport construction is becoming increasingly popular, owing to the increasing awareness of its benefits among architects, designers, and building owners. It offers a digital representation of the physical and operational characteristics of an airport facility.
It serves as a reliable shared knowledge resource which aids in effective decision-making and ensures airport construction projects run more efficiently and economically.
BIM also enables architects to develop more environmentally friendly designs and enhances team collaboration, thus increasing design precision and creating effective design documentation.
Many such benefits encourage architects and architecture firms to invest in BIM technologies to increase project and operational efficiency and enhance user experience.
Bhushan Avsatthi is a talented architect with over 22 years in the field. He oversees the BIM division of HitechDigital.com, managing multiple teams of architects, structural and MEP engineers, LEED consultants and energy modelling experts.
He has spoken at various international BIM conferences and is deeply involved in green initiatives. His thoughts on global best practices in building design have been published in multiple architectural and engineering journals.
